Mayor's Dutiful Wife

4. Mr. Harding

"She died for you, Hannah. She knew I'll only do what was best for you. The least you can do for her is listen to me" he said getting close to my ear.

Gut-wrenching sobs tore through my chest.

"You are the reason she committed suicide"

"Please, dad. Please, stop" I cried out. I couldn't take it anymore.

"Hannie bear, you don't have an option. I'll destroy everything you have ever wanted. I'll destroy your life if you don't this" he said calmly.

Everything was just a joke to him. I was a joke to him. My life, my happiness didn't matter to him. Tears freely fell from my eyes as I shook my head unable to accept what he was doing to me.

"Now, freshen up. He will be here in an hour. So, you better look presentable for him" he said

"No, I won't" I shouted.

Anger and defiance were my last resort. He wouldn't listen to my pleading.

"Shut up" he roared making me flinch.

"He's the mayor of our town, you will treat him with respect. You will do whatever he wants you to do. He has already signed the papers and that makes him your husband. Learn to obey and respect your husband" he said and I didn't know what to say or do. I sat there lifelessly listening to him.

I knew my father was a misogynistic male chauvinistic jerk but I never thought he hated me this much.

"I've already given instructions to my secretary, She will turn you into a pretty little wife for Mr. Mayor" he grabbed my arm and dragged me out of his office. His fingernails dug into my skin. I looked at my father with blurry vision as he dragged me out. I couldn't believe he was the same man as yesterday.

"Make her presentable and come back to my office. You have forty-five minutes" he ordered coldly, the secretary nodded and led me away from there.

I couldn't believe my whole life turned upside down within twenty-four hours. Yesterday, I was partying with my friends in New York and now I am stuck here in Richmonte, married to the guy, who hates me passionately.

I was dressed in a line halter satin black short dress, my make-up was done professionally. My waist-length brown hair straightened making them appear longer and my dress was paired with black high heels. Tears threatened to fall from my eyes every two seconds but I kept them in.

I was sitting in my father's office waiting for his order, he was the one pulling my strings.

Everything I worked so hard for and everything thing I have built was at stake.

It's just two years, it'll pass. I will go back to my old life, my good life in New York City. I kept telling myself to calm my nerves.

But I have to face him. I have to see him again. After all these years.

"Miss Clarke, you can come with me now," My dad's secretary said, I got startled by her voice. I stood up with trembling legs and followed her.

She stopped outside of the door and gestured me to go on in.

"I am not allowed inside, Ma'am" She gave me a warm smile and walked away.

I took a deep breath and opened the door when a deep, smoky voice fell on my ears. It didn't belong to my dad that's for sure. I felt a jolt in my stomach hearing his voice after all these years.

"There she is," my father said

I raised my eyes to see Sebastian staring at me from head to toe. His eyes trailed down from my face to my neck and then to my breast then to my legs before settling down on my face again.

"Hannah, come in," my dad said

I walked up to him. He placed his hand on my back and whispered in my ear "Behave yourself and smile" I faked a broken smile and greeted Mr. and Mrs. Harding, then I greeted Sebastian, who didn't look the least bit interested in my presence.

"Hannah, you have turned out to be a fine young lady. You look so much like your mother" Mrs. Harding approached me and hugged me.

She has always been nice to me. She knew my mom. She was the wife of the richest man in Richmonte and my mother was the wife of the mayor. So, they were bound to know one another. Mr. Harding nodded at me in acknowledgment.

"As you've both signed the marriage contract, we will start arranging for the ceremony" Mr. Harding talked to no one in particular.

"Sebastian is a public figure and he is loved by our people. The ceremony should be extravagant, you both will get married in Richmonte Church this Friday" Mr. Harding said, I stood there listening to them making decisions about my life.

I knew Sebastian didn't want to be here as much as I did. He seemed bored with the whole situation while our fathers discussed every detail of the wedding.

"We should give them a little time in private to talk about this" Mrs. Harding smiled

"That isn't necessary, Mum" Sebastian deadpanned

"Oh, it is" she eyed Sebastian and held onto her husband's arm taking him out of the room with her.

"Make him happy" My father whispered in my ear before walking out.

We both stood there for a second when Sebastian strode towards the couch in the corner, sat down, and poured himself a drink.

I slowly stepped towards him and sat down on the other side of the couch. He twirled the drink before drinking it in one go. I took a deep breath and decided to break the ice.

"Sebastian" My voice barely a whisper but he heard it because he stiffened.

"Mr. Harding," he said plainly

"What?"

"It is Mr. Harding or Mayor for you, Ms. Clarke"

"I-um..."

"We don't need to have this conversation," he snapped gulping down another glass.

"You are not the only one forced into this, I didn't want it too," I said raising my voice.

He wasn't the only one suffering in this clusterfuck. He turned his head towards me with such force that I think I heard a whiplash. His eyes dangerously narrowed and he had predatory look on his face.

"This is a contract between our families nothing more nothing less, a business deal. As your father is the former mayor and I am the present, it is beneficial for us" He said coldly

"I-" I was about to say something when he cut me off.

"I am not done talking yet" he snapped. "Don't talk until I allow you to. Keep that in your pea-sized brain for the next two years"

"This is a business deal. A Harding and a Clarke make a power couple for the people of my town. You are just an insignificant pawn in our game. We just needed someone with the last name Clarke. They loved your father and now they love me and with you by my side acting like a wife will only help us expand more"

"......." I had tears in my eyes by now but I am not going to let him see my tears. So, I inhaled sharply.

"Don't even think for one second that we are husband and wife. I will live my life just as I was living before signing this contract and you can w***e around all you want, I don't care. Just stay away from the public eye. We don't want them knowing how much of a slut you are"

"Seb- Mr. Harding, you are crossing your limits," I said trying to sound brave but I wasn't.

He ignored what I said and went on saying: "Your father wants me to handle your family business because he thinks you are incompetent and unfit to handle such an empire. A measly good for nothing slut" He scoffed laughing a bit.

"After this so-called wedding, I will get all of Clarke's business in my name. Then after two years, we can say that you cheated on me and we will get a divorce. You can run back to New York. No one will care about you" he said while drinking his fifth glass of scotch.

"Now, if you'll excuse me. I have more important work to do than be here in your unnecessary presence" he spat the last words with venom in his voice and strode out.

__________

I strolled down the stairwell to get something to eat. I heard Eva yelling at my dad. My ears perked up as she mentioned my name.

"Why her, Mason? Nancy is so much better than her. Sebastian also likes Nancy, but no you brought her here and made her marry my daughter's man. Nancy is heartbroken" She yelled.

Nancy and Sebastian? I thought he hated Nancy.

"Are you forgetting that Nancy is your daughter, not mine? She is an Adams, not a Clarke" he yelled back

"You could have given her your name, you are the only father she has ever known" she continued yelling.

"She is not my blood, I am only keeping them here is because I feel pity for you and your children. Hannah is my biological daughter and always will be. If I were to die tomorrow, she is the one who gets everything in my name, not you or your pathetic children"

"Mason, what do you mean she gets everything?" Eva asked stunned as I peeked from the half-opened door.

"You couldn't even give me a son and you think I'll give you my money? I made you sign a prenuptial agreement before getting married, don't you remember? Fabricating contracts and getting signatures is not a big deal for me" He scoffed

"Mason, you can't do this to me and my children. No, this can't happen!" She talked to herself in shock. "I could have given you a son if you had tried. If you weren't so caught up with your psycho dead wife" she shrieked.

Suddenly, she was pushed against a wall. Dad gripped her neck with both of his hands and started to choke her.

"Yes, I can, and I'll. After Hannah is publicly declared married to Sebastian Harding, all of my assets will go to him. He is like the son I've never had" he smiled proudly

"If I had a son, I would want him to be just like him. Now, he will be my son-in-law. And the child that will be born out of Hannah and Sebastian will be my heir. A pure Clarke and Harding inheriting powerful genes" my dad explained with pride.

He finally let her go. She fell on the floor coughing severely and taking in as much air as she could.

"What if she only gave birth to girls like her mother?" She croaked out her voice rough

"Then I'll make sure that they die in her womb, just like I did to her mother," He said

I ran back to my room and closed the door. I slid down as tears flowed down my face like a river.